Ask an Officer: Ticket quotas

Answer: In general terms, a quota requires a police officer to issue a specific number of citations or warnings during a specified time period. Wisconsin law actually prohibits the use of quotas in law enforcement. With that being said, it is important to realize that one of the most common complaints from citizens to the Wausau Police Department involves traffic related issues. On a daily basis, officers, dispatchers and administrators receive specific complaints about speeding, red light violators, reckless driving, distracted drivers, etc.

Because of the high number of complaints received, I believe it is incumbent upon the police department to make our best effort to enforce traffic laws. The enforcement of traffic laws also has a direct impact on highway safety. Police officers are employed to keep the community safe. We would be failing to meet that mission if we were not persistent in the enforcement of traffic laws.